James Delphin-Kennedy: ‘Thug’ jailed after threatening pregnant woman with axe

A pregnant Wodonga woman was forced to rely on a stranger for help after her partner threatened her and her son with an axe.

An Albury man has been jailed over threatening to “hurt” a pregnant woman and her young son after demanding she get an abortion.

James Delphin-Kennedy, 26, faced the Wodonga Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, pleading guilty to charges of threatening to inflict serious violence and assault with a weapon.

The court heard Delphin-Kennedy had been living with the woman for about four months before she discovered she was pregnant with his child in September 2021.

The revelation led Delphin-Kennedy to begin verbally abusing the victim, telling her to “get rid” of the child.

Shortly after midnight on September 11, the pair were arguing at a Wodonga home when he held an axe and a knife to her face, saying; “keep going and I’ll hurt you and everyone else”.

Her young son from a previous relationship was asleep at the house.

Later the same morning the woman was sent to Birallee Village Shopping Centre to buy cigarettes for Delphin-Kennedy at 7.30am.

He had taken her phone from her and told her she “had to be back in five minute or I’ll hurt your son”.

At the Centre, the woman approached a stranger and told them what was occurring, with the stranger relaying the information to local police.

Delphin-Kennedy was arrested at the home without incident.

In court, Delphin-Kennedy’s defence lawyer said her client was “ very ashamed” of his behaviour and accepted responsibility for the offending.

“The offending was fuelled by alcohol and drug abuse,” she said.

“He’s accepted responsibility and is very keen to do a residential rehab program when released.”

Delphin-Kennedy was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment by magistrate Peter Dunn, with a non-parole period of six months.

“All right-thinking people in the community condemn family violence in all its shapes and forms,” he said.

“He’s treated her appallingly, he’s a bully and a thug. No right thinking person would try to pressure another person into an abortion.”